Postdoctoraal Onderzoeker Rechtsgeschiedenis

**Tilburg University | Tilburg Law School**
is looking for a

**POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER LEGAL HISTORY**

Department: Public Law and Governance (PLG)
Location: Tilburg
Contract size: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Full-time gross monthly salary: €4,492 - €6,148
Contract duration: 24 months
Desired starting date: 1 February 2025

Are you a PhD graduate in (legal) history with a passion for archival research? Then we are looking for you

Tilburg University is hiring a postdoctoral researcher in legal history for the project ‘Multilevel Governance in Late Medieval and Early Modern Cities of Commerce’. The project consists of two major work packages: ‘Professionals and the People’ and ‘The Rhine as Legal Entity? Exploring Multilevel Governance and Intercity Relations in the 16th-century Wine Trades across the Rhine Region.’ As part of the second work package, you will conduct research on regulations relevant to the wine trade in several German cities along the Rhine. You will join a team of enthusiastic (legal) historians who are studying various aspects of urban institutions in the late medieval and early modern periods.

**Your position**
As postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct archival and literature research within the aforementioned project. Together with the principal investigators, Dr. Marco in ’t Veld (wp 2) and Dr. Maurits den Hollander (wp 1), you will dive into the history of the wine trade in cities such as Wesel, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, and/or Worms. What expectations did wine merchants have of the urban institutions? Did cities meet these expectations? And if so, how exactly? Did cities collaborate with each other, or did they rather compete?

You will inventorize the available archival material in the relevant cities and produce academic publications, both independently and in collaboration with the principal investigators, to report the research findings. You will also be co-responsible for organizing an international scientific conference. There is ample opportunity to contribute your own ideas and to take initiatives. This way, we develop the project and shape it further collectively. At your request, opportunities to gain teaching experience can be explored. This position allows you to take the next step in your academic career.

**The project team**
The project team consists of two principal investigators and two postdoctoral researchers, and is embedded in the theme ‘Urban Constitutionalism’ of the faculty’s research program ‘Global Law and Governance’. Our department has approximately twelve legal historians. Many of them work on closely related topics, for instance, as part of the ERC-project CaPANES, which investigates the economic sovereignty of several medieval and early modern cities.

To maintain a lively and active community, it is important that we see each other regularly and maintain strong connections. The project team meets at least once a month to exchange literature and research findings. Additionally, you will also have informal and other organized meetings with colleagues. There is ample opportunity to work independently. As a project team, we are present on our beautiful, green campus in Tilburg about two days a week. On other days, you can also work from home. The department regularly organizes team-building and social events, allowing you to get to know colleagues from other specializations better and to feel quickly at home within the Department of Public Law and Governance.

**Your profile**
Tilburg University is curious about how you can contribute to our research, education, impact, and the team you will be joining. Therefore, we would like to get the best possible picture of your knowledge, skills, and personality. Below you will find a number of qualifications that we consider important for the position.
- You have written a (legal) historical dissertation on a related medieval or early modern topic.
- You have demonstrable experience in independently conducting archival research with handwritten sources from this period.
- You are interested in the institutional, economic, and legal history of the relevant period.
- You possess excellent oral and written communication skills, preferably evidenced by relevant academic publications and conference contributions.
- You have an excellent proficiency of the English and German language, both spoken and written. Proficiency in Dutch and/or Latin is a plus.

Personal competencies:

- You demonstrate scientific integrity and personal leadership, take responsibility for your work and career, and have good self-awareness.
- You have team spirit. You feel part of a team and express this through collaboration, sharing knowledge and experience, and contributing to an open and inclusive work environment.

**What do we offer?**

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment with attention to flexibility and room for (personal) development. We recognize and reward our employees and enc